A former Soviet-era intelligence officer, wanted for subversion and deadly repression by two of Russia’s neighbours, has emerged as a key player with rebels in eastern Ukraine.

Vladimir Antyufeev acted as a leader in the self-styled People’s Republic of Donetsk, the scene of desperate efforts to recover the last human remains after the attack on flight MH17.

It may also signal an attempt by Russia's President Vladimir Putin to consolidate control over the separatists.

Vladimir Antyufeev (right) at the press conference where the MH17 black boxes were handed to Malaysia, with Alexander Borodai (centre) and Colonel Mohamed Sakri (second right) of the Malaysian National Security. Photo: Reuters

Mr Antyufeev is reportedly a “specialist for creating new independent states” and is suspected of helping orchestrate Russia’s annexation of Crimea in March.

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He took over as "acting" leader after "prime minister" Alexander Borodai was this week summoned to Moscow for consultations.

Mr Borodai had been the face of the rebels, negotiating with Malaysia’s Prime Minister Najib Razak in the past fortnight to allow access to the wreckage of the Malaysia Airlines Boeing 777.

Alexander Borodai (centre) at the MH17 crash site. He has been reportedly recalled to Moscow. Photo: AFP

Russian-born Mr Antyufeev was announced only days before the attack on MH17 as “first deputy prime minister” in Donetsk, with control over security and the interior ministry.

Mr Antyufeev has deep ties with Russia’s security services. He was a police commander in the former Soviet republic Latvia, where he remains wanted over an attack that left six dead in 1991 after the country declared independence.

But he defends his past as a fight against “fascism”.

Vladimir Antyufeev. Photo: Reuters

Mr Antyufeev later became defence minister in Transnistria – a pro-Russian breakaway republic of Moldova.

He was dismissed in 2012 and returned to Russia and was later accused of abuse of power.

The European Union has blacklisted Mr Antyufeev as “persona non grata”.

On Tuesday, he accused the Ukrainian government of thwarting attempts by Dutch and Australian police to search for any remains of the 298 people killed on MH17.

“The Ukrainians have taken over a part of the crash site,” he said, and blamed government artillery shells for “destroying parts of the site where fragments of the plane are located”.